Senator Thom Tillis unloaded on President Donald Trump’s decision to promote Stephen Miller to White House chief of staff, calling the appointment a “colossal mistake” and demanding that Trump reconsider. The North Carolina Republican blamed Miller’s handling of immigration policy for lost Hispanic support. He also questioned whether Miller could work with Democrats taking control of Congress.
The exchange aired Friday, November 6th, 2026, on CNN’s “The Lead,” where host Jake Tapper asked Tillis about Miller replacing Susie Wiles. The interview came three days after the midterm elections, with Republicans confronting their losses and the administration preparing for Democratic congressional majorities. Tillis opened his response by calling Miller the “worst of all possible choices.”
Tillis initially credited Trump with securing the border and reversing former President Joe Biden’s immigration approach. He argued that Republicans should have benefited politically from those accomplishments during the campaign. He then blamed the party’s loss of Hispanic support largely on the management of immigration and homeland security policy, identifying both as areas of responsibility for Miller.
As Breitbart reported, Tillis next accused Miller of alienating Republicans as well as Democrats. He questioned how Miller could help negotiate with the incoming congressional leadership. After criticizing advice Trump had received from other aides, Tillis placed responsibility for this appointment directly on the president: “But the president made this decision, and the president needs to rethink it.”
Tillis also warned that the administration would soon face a Congress less willing to accommodate its decisions, according to additional interview excerpts Mediaite published. He said officials needed to adjust their approach when the new Congress convenes in January 2027. Otherwise, he predicted further disruptions and political maneuvering that Democrats could exploit in the 2028 elections, warning that administration officials would discover “they’re not in Kansas anymore.”
Trump’s announcement set Monday, November 9, 2026, as Miller’s starting date and identified Wiles’s next assignment within his political organization. Miller was already serving as deputy chief of staff. “I am pleased to announce that Mr. Stephen Miller, the current Deputy Chief of Staff of the Trump Administration, and one of my most trusted advisors, will become the Chief of Staff starting Monday, November 9th, 2026,” Trump wrote. He also thanked Wiles for her service and praised her work leading the White House staff.
Watch Tillis react to Miller’s promotion here:
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The White House formally identified Miller as the 33rd chief of staff in its November 6th release. It credited him with helping advance the administration’s work on border security, violent crime and large-scale fraud. Describing his qualifications for the appointment, the statement said: “He brings deep experience, broad institutional knowledge, and unwavering commitment to the role.”
Wiles addressed her departure in a November 6th post, identifying Friday as her final day in the position. She expressed pride in the administration’s border, tax and economic policies and thanked the people who had worked alongside her. Wiles also said her support for Trump would continue after the transition: “While my role may be changing, my commitment to the President and the mission never will.”
Featured image credit: screengrab from the embedded video.